Posted on 01/13/2008 6:06:24 PM PST by Lonesome in Massachussets
Gang Activity in the U.S. Military
Feb 12 2007
According to a recently released FBI report, Gang-related activity in the US military is increasing and poses a threat to law enforcement officials and national security.
The report, Gang Activity in the U.S. Armed Forces Increasing, dated January 12, states that members of nearly every major street gang have been identified on both domestic and international military installations. Members of nearly every major street gang, including the Bloods, Crips, Black Disciples, Gangster Disciples, Hells Angels, Latin Kings, The 18th Street Gang, Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13), Mexican Mafia, Nortenos, Surenos, Vice Lords, and various white supremacist groups, have been documented on military installations. Although most prevalent in the Army, the Army Reserves, and the National Guard, gang activity is pervasive throughout all branches of the military and across most ranks, but is most common among the junior enlisted ranks, according to the report. The extent of gang presence in the armed services is often difficult to determine since many enlisted gang members conceal their gang affiliation and military authorities may not recognize gang affiliation or may be inclined not to report such incidences.
Since 2004, the FBI and El Paso Police Department have identified over 40 military-affiliated Folk Nation gang members stationed at the Fort Bliss Army Installation in Texas who have been involved in drug distribution, robberies, assaults, weapons offenses, and a homicide, both on and off the installation.
Fort Hood, Texas, Army Installation officials have identified nearly 40 gang members on base since 2003. Military-affiliated Gangster Disciple members at Fort Hood have been responsible for robberies, assaults, theft, and burglaries on and off base.
Nearly 130 gang and extremist group members have been identified on the Fort Lewis, Washington, Army Installation since 2005. These gang members are believed to be responsible for many of the criminal misconduct incidences reported on base.
The FBI reports that accurate data reflecting gang-related incidences occurring on military installations is limited, since the military is not required to report criminal offense statistics occurring on post to the FBI. Consequently, military data reflecting criminal incidents are not incorporated into the Uniform Crime Report (UCR).
Why Do Gang Members Join the Military?
The FBI believes that gang members may enlist in the military to escape their current environment or gang lifestyle. Some gang members may also enlist to receive weapons, combat, and convoy support training; to obtain access to weapons and explosives; or as an alternative to incarceration.
Upon discharge, they may employ their military training against law enforcement officials and rival gang members. Such military training could ultimately result in more organized, sophisticated, and deadly gangs, as well as an increase in deadly assaults on law enforcement officers.
In May 2005 an Army recruit and suspected Crip member was assigned to the US Army Finance Battalion where he engaged in drug distribution. He was eventually discharged from the Army for misconduct.
According to open source reporting and multiple law enforcement reporting, soldiers—including gang members—are currently being taught urban warfare for combat in Iraq, including how to encounter hostile gunfire.
The Defense Criminal Investigative Service reported in 2006 that gang members, particularly MS-13 members, are increasing their presence on or near US military installations.
Even though the policy violates Military recruiting regulations, US criminal courts have allowed gang members to enter the service as an alternative to incarceration. Several incidences wherein gang members have been recruited into the armed services while facing criminal charges or on probation or parole have been documented. In many instances, a gang member facing criminal charges may be provided the option to join the military or serve a jail sentence. Furthermore, some army recruiters have been known to conceal recruits' gang affiliation to help boost their enlistment numbers.
Increased Crime
Gang membership in the armed forces can disrupt good order and discipline, increase criminal activity on and off military installations, and compromise installation security and force protection. Gang incidents involving active-duty personnel on or near US military bases nationwide include drive-by shootings, assaults, robberies, drug distribution, weapons violations, domestic disturbances, vandalism, extortion, and money laundering. Gangs have also been known to use active-duty service members to distribute their drugs.
The Aurora Police Department reports that in July 2006 a Marine reservist and Maniac Latin Disciple gang member who had served in Iraq was charged with attempted murder in the shooting of three teenagers in Aurora, Illinois.
According to FBI investigative data, in April 2006 a Blood member and active duty soldier at Fort Lewis allegedly robbed a bowling alley on base and is a suspect in a home invasion robbery in Olympia, Washington.
In January 2005 a Fort Hood soldier and Gangster Disciple leader was convicted of two aggravated robberies in Killeen, Texas.22 According to open-source reporting, he allegedly directed 30 to 40 Fort Hood Gangster Disciple members to commit illegal activities including drug dealing, identity theft, and armed robberies.
Some people did try that. Check out the Battle of Athens (Tennessee) in 1946.
Interesting that this report has spawned a dozen threads but only a couple reports on MSM radio news this weekend.
That’s just crazy. I don’t believe a word of it.
The propagandist with a keyboard is as much an enemy as the armed terrorist or the clandestine bomb maker, and far more dangerous person for person.
It wasn't nearly as subtle back then. It was in your face and viscous as hell.
Bill Mauldin, in his book, "Back Home" describes the same pathetic writings in the MSM and books at the end of World War Two.
I highly recommend his books, "Up Front" and "Back Home".
He was a cartoonist and author who spent a lot of time at the front.
Probably one of the more accurate descriptions of WWII and the life of the average GI in the European theater both at war and at home.
Between his frank writing and and cartoons, he'll have you laughing and crying while reading his books.
You'll have to look in used bookstores or perhaps Amazon to get them.
Nope.
Liberals hate the very heroes who's blood has bought them their precious liberty through the years. They despise the men and women who defend to the death their very right to print and speak such defamatory and vile propaganda.
Liberals make me sick.
Better yet. How many of our military have been killed because of journalists taking the side of our enemies? Walter Cronkite comes to mind.
Well, it is. You see, the NYT article was based on 6 years, not one. The US average is an ANNUAL rate of 27 out of 100,000. The 127 deaths attributed to GIs total span 6 YEARS!
So the number is 17 out of 100,000 DIVIDED by 6. Now it’s much, much lower.
The purpose of this article is to make civilians fear and distrust the U.S. military and veterans. It is a continuation of the longstanding leftist policy of attacking America’s troops through the use of lies - a policy that has continued for more than 40 years.
But I do agree that recruiters should not be taking guys with hard records. Most will be nothing but trouble.
“This is the way the major media players treated the Vietnam veterans upon return...”
Exactly right —and the TV and Movie industries in the early 1970’s had no end of weekly episodes or movies featuring “crazed” Vietnam Vets on a rampage...it was a horrible disgrace.
It sure was, and I refuse to let them do it again. If they try, I’ll raise holy hell!
The left is fighting for power, influence and money. They see the military as their primary competition for all three rather than as the protector of their existence. They really believe that if the U.S. military were just a scaled up version of the Canadian nothing would change except for the good.
But the level of violence in criminal actions has risen geometrically since the 1960s. Today, in my inner city classroom there are folks who've committed armed robbery and are just out on parole. A few years ago, I had a murderer under similar circumstances. FEMALE killer. When I was a student in high school the incidence of assaults on teachers was maybe a fraction of 1% but last year we had so many I lost count. In fact at my inner city school we recently saw over seven thousand outdoor suspensions on a student population of just over 1,700. Mostly for acts of violence. Kids in school are mostly the "nice" kids from the 'Hood. But out there, past the perimeter fence? MS13 is racking up kills like Minnesota Fats racked up suckers at pool.
When I was on active duty at Fort Lewis in the 1980s a team of highly trained US Army Rangers planned and pulled a bank job with utter precision because that's how they were trained by our very own rich Uncle Sam! But that was the so called "Cold War." Now you've got combat hardened vets returning from a nasty theater of operations with some serious experience against a well armed and determined enemy. Not the same thing at all. I didn't say it was organized on a massive scale but look what a "small" insurgency was able to do to our guys after three years? How long would it be before there were enough cops killed to make them think real hard before answering certain types of calls in certain areas? How long before the fear spreads? Of course the pols would have the American people now believe that the simple answer is across the board Katrina style gun control. But that's all part of the pre-arranged agenda at work, here.
It’s more than that, I think. The Left wants to undercut the ability of America to project power anywhere in the world, because they see America as a force for evil.
Hmmmmmmmmm. I am a Nam Vet. I have PTSD. I have guns. By some apparent miracle, my firearms have never threatened, wounded or killed anyone. What am I doing wrong?
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